Honegger symphonies

[Dave2002]

Prompted by recent exchanges I started looking for CDs of Honegger's symphonies. I was slightly surprised to find that Plasson's - which has been on an EMI 2fer - is getting more difficult to obtain - http://www.amazon.com/Honegger-Symph.../dp/B0000CE7FR I suspect it's worth having, even though the 2nd is apparently trumpetless.

This compilation has 2,3 and 4 plus other music - http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/EMI/0946732 seems good.

There is a cheap set of all the 5 symphonies by Dutoit - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/re...kengl_music-21 - see market place sellers. Seems almost a no-brainer for purchase at the low price.

I was wondering whether it is worth chasing down Plasson's set, perhaps before it finally disappears. This is a set which I thought I might have already bought, as I have others in the EMI Gemini series, but it seems I may have missed that one.

I got to know some of these works previously from Baudo's recordings on Supraphon.

Then again, some say that Karajan's recording of 2 and 3 is so good that it's also a "must buy", and again that single CD is not too expensive from market place sellers - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Honegger-Sym...2435762&sr=8-1

It would, of course, be possible to buy all of these for a relatively modest sum, even if Plasson's set had to be bought at a higher price than in its original Gemini incarnation.

[Pabmusic]

...There is a cheap set of all the 5 symphonies by Dutoit - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/re...kengl_music-21 - see market place sellers. Seems almost a no-brainer for purchase at the low price...

I have this Erato set, and it is excellent. But then, I've never hankered after a second recording of any of these pieces.

[mercia]

even though the 2nd is apparently trumpetless

eh? - the chorale not played ?

I have Karajan 2 & 3

[Dave2002]

eh? - the chorale not played ?

I have Karajan 2 & 3

That's what several reviewers have suggested.

How do you like the Karajan?

pab

The voice of reason - you may be right, possibly Dutoit's is all that's needed, or mabe only Karajan's as synphonies 2 and 3 are perhaps the best of the bunch anyway. I really don't know 1, 4 and 5 well at all.

Currently I've been sampling from Spotify, but it's somewhat infuriating on my iPad as it keeps shuffling the tracks. The Munch/Jansons/Plassons selection with the cello concerto etc. seems good, and throws in that flute solo piece.

[mercia]

How do you like the Karajan?

having nothing else to compare them with, all I can say is 'they're good enough for me'. perhaps some day I will hear other performances which may make me see them in a different light. I'm not sufficiently technically savvy to recognise good recording quality from bad.

it has sometimes crossed my mind, was this unusual repertoire for Karajan ? Presumably he saw something special in these 2 symphonies to want to record them. I love them. The disc also has the Stravinsky string concerto [as you're probably already aware]

[Dave2002]

The disc also has the Stravinsky string concerto [as you're probably already aware]

Up to a point, Lord Copper!

Actually the Amazon listing does mention Stravinsky, but I've been peering at the images of the cover and couldn't see any mention of anything by Stravinsky. This was a puzzle. I guess this solves the mystery. Thanks.

[mathias broucek]

The Karajan performance of the Liturgique's finale (Dona Nobis Pacem) is simply stunning.

Karajan, Dutoit and Baudo are enough for me

[Dave2002]

I'm not sufficiently technically savvy to recognise good recording quality from bad.

Can't you just listen? Some recordings sound good, or very good, and others just don't!

[cloughie]

Can't you just listen? Some recordings sound good, or very good, and others just don't!

For the majority of recordings the quality is fine but there are recent transfers from copyright expired vinyl which are unacceptably unpleasant - however I do not think that applies to any of the Honegger recordings and if you can pick up the Dutoit at a reasonable price you need go no further.

[mercia]

Can't you just listen? !

I do ............ thanks

but sometimes I've listened for example to BaL and the critic will play a passage and then say "the engineers didn't do a good job there" or "the balance wasn't right there" and I haven't noticed anything

same goes for some of the concert reviews given by members on this forum where they criticise the radio engineers - I can't hear anything wrong


EDIT - mind you, I am listening through fairly basic equipment
EDIT EDIT - I don't think I know the difference between bitrate and britvic

[Suffolkcoastal]

I'm in agreement with you there Mercia. Sometimes you can hear a difference and a genuinely bad recording quality is normally fairly obvious. Otherwise I'm too interested in the music to really care whether or not this section is engineered any better than that. The music comes first.

Anyway I'm glad that I've managed to stiumlate a discussion on Honegger. Perhaps the R3 politburo might take note and Honegger's music along with many other of the Dear Leader's musical dislikes will be reinstated to the airwaves on a more regular basis.

[rauschwerk]

I once owned the Karajan CD of 2 & 3 but have settled for Baudo and Dutoit who bring a certain Gallic lightness of touch to the music where that is possible. Dutoit's No.4 is a sheer delight from beginning to end and I listen to it often.

[Madame Suggia]

It's the Baudo set for me. I didn't like Karajans recording of the 2nd Symphony.
The Munch recording of the 2nd with the Orchestre de Paris on EMI is lovely.

[BBMmk2]

I have the Karajan 2 & 3. Quite superb recording this. Otherwise, Dutoit does it for me.

[Serial_Apologist]

Anyway I'm glad that I've managed to stiumlate a discussion on Honegger. Perhaps the R3 politburo might take note and Honegger's music along with many other of the Dear Leader's musical dislikes will be reinstated to the airwaves on a more regular basis.

If that is the case, for the life of me I cannot think why it should be!

Honegger's music covers all fronts, as far as 20th century musical tastes are concerned. Anyone coming from the direction of Mahler will have no difficulty detecting a musical architect of similar temperament; the rhythmic impulse derives in part from the Stravinsky of the Diaghilev period; devotees of French music will hear comparisons with Ravel, Milhaud and Koechlin, while lovers of English music will find passing comparisons with Holst, Vaughan Williams, Walton and Bax, at the very least.